Mohd Rafi Death Anniversary
TO be frank i didnt knew much about the great guy or havent heard much songs, but today took my mom to this guys tribute concert by a local who his famous mohd rafdi’s voice… and it was unbelievable, speechless experience.. as rafi fans came and made it one of the most memorable evenings of my life… i didnt knew much songs of the legend.. but i njoyed mukadar ka sikander antra.. which introduced us.. and jalado yeh duniya from pyaasa.. and some that i have forgotten by now as i heard for first time… indeed a great evening.. and i want all of us at SS to remember the legend.. as u guys might know more of him.. and some of his songs please post them if possible.. i would like to know
SATYAMSHOT 
July 31, 2011 at 11:58 AM
thanks for the post Rooney.. you should revisit the originals now! I’ll start you off randomly with this Night in London number:
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July 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM
LOL.. surely.. but the only sad part is my 3G usage is over.. would need to recharge tomo.. to hear the songs 😦
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July 31, 2011 at 4:46 PM
From the same film is one of my absolute favourites (but best with eyes closed or on a cd!!)
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July 31, 2011 at 12:02 PM
@sattu: Right now toh.. m crying.. and feeling anguish, pain,sad.. etc.. as i see this below scene.. which i am sure is iconic to many.. and was to me when i saw this film long ago.. as its among my fav… but i never ever knew the song is ung by whom? (sadly) but now i know.. and just m hearing it again and again and again… very haunting experience…
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July 31, 2011 at 12:02 PM
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July 31, 2011 at 2:48 PM
Awwwww….come, come…you can cry on my shoulders beta…chano rahi jaa.
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July 31, 2011 at 3:07 PM
well i dont mind it mummy… come ahmd fast … aavija .. samji.. natak nahi karti have
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July 31, 2011 at 12:10 PM
this is Bachchan’s biggest grosser, leaving aside Sholay. The real song here is by Kishore. This is just a short Rafi version towards the end. Leaving aside the gross this film is one of the most legendary ones in the Bachchan canon. Specially in the North it is one of those ‘greatest ever’ works or has that reputation. The Kishore version is also one of those iconic Bombay videos and the same could be said in terms of Bachchan’s iconic imagery:
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July 31, 2011 at 1:16 PM
yup my mom informed me that happy version was by kishore kumar… and thnx for the video.. atleast now m cheered after to much sad song hearing.. LOL
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August 2, 2011 at 4:07 AM
I have strangely always felt this song was inspired by the RK number in Andaz – both in terms of locales and the wordings –
‘Maut aani hai aayegi ek din…’
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August 2, 2011 at 4:08 AM
Sorry, song being ‘Zindagi Ek safar hai suhana…’
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August 2, 2011 at 8:46 AM
hehe, i was trying to think which song u meant cos i assumed rk=raj kapoor so the Andaz by Naushad
am not really a fan of these noisy kishore songs. liked him best when he was singing for dev anand by burman dada. also some of those early LP songs like mere mehboob qayamat hogi or ajnabi tum jaane pehchaane se lagte ho.
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August 2, 2011 at 10:42 AM
agreed. Even I prefer the songs that Kishore sang for Dev Anand – even with RD .
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August 2, 2011 at 1:36 PM
best ever rafi song was from Dharmendras film
“loafer”
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July 31, 2011 at 4:18 PM
formed formidible combination with lata infact i haven’t seen any two singer complementing each other so beautifully
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July 31, 2011 at 4:44 PM
For sure.
But personally I liked the Mukesh-Lata combo best. Wicked chemistry.
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July 31, 2011 at 4:57 PM
ya mukesh lata have produced real gems and even the chemistry of kishore and lata worked big time
that sure was the era where starting from manna dey to rafi , kishore and mukesh each produced some outstanding songs and that to being compleately different from each other
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July 31, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Ah, great topic for a post. I’m visiting my parents this wknd so not got time to write very much, but I will just say that whilst from the big three I’ve always liked Mukesh’s voice best, and whilst my overall favourite singer remains Hemantda, I think that objectively it is hard to argue against Rafi Saab being the all time greatest male singer.
Listing favourite songs of such Legends is always a delight, but for the moment I’ll recommend this rather rare gem from an old sixties film. Sheer magic:
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July 31, 2011 at 4:58 PM
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July 31, 2011 at 4:59 PM
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July 31, 2011 at 5:02 PM
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July 31, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Rooney, there are too many Rafi gems to be posted here – LoL! I don’t have utube links but do have MP3 versions of good Rafi songs. If that will do, i can post them here on SS – pls let me know
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August 1, 2011 at 12:39 AM
thnks filmbuff, iffonfire, salimbhai..
@filmbuff.. no need this are enough to keep me hearing for a week.. 🙂
or else i will get a MP3 of rafi sahab for myself and mom.
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July 31, 2011 at 10:46 PM
Hey Rooney, this program you mention of, did it happen at Dinanath (Parle East) on Saturday night by any chance? If yes, then my mum and her brothers and their families were there for the event as well. I was gonna go as well, but opted out to go see The Tree of Life in limited engagement instead.
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August 1, 2011 at 12:37 AM
abzee: nope.. dude.. i was in ahmedabad tribute program, not in mumbai.
ps- how was tree of life?
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August 1, 2011 at 5:44 AM
likhe jokhat tujhe
jo teri yaad mei
hazaaro rang ke nazaare ban gaye
sawera jab hua to phoolban gaye
jo raat aayi to
sitaare ban gaye.
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August 2, 2011 at 3:07 AM
Mohammed Rafi Tu Bahut Yaad Aaya from film Kroadh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3NicoBLNtw
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August 2, 2011 at 3:10 AM
Dil Pukare Aa Re Aa Re by Mohd Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lquTatrN_9Y
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August 2, 2011 at 4:34 AM
Incidentally, I would rate Lata -Rafi combo the best probably better than Mukesh-Lata simply becoz the Mukesh did not have the range that Rafi had. I recollect reading somewhere that Rafi had the maximum duets with Lata.
My Rafi favs are mostly solos- this one from Gambler being one of them
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August 2, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Actually, Rafi has the most duets with Asha, as incidentally does Kishore. Although Rafi and Asha are my two favorite singers, I rate the Rafi-Geeta Dutt combo as the absolute best. The inimitable, spontaneous Geeta was a nice foil for the Rafi’s more laborious tendencies – she lightened him up.
Case in point, this sweet, cute duet from “Manzil”
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August 2, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Ok. So I think the statement needs to be reversed- Lata has sung the maximum duets with Rafi!
http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110181296&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=music&nid=123358
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July 31, 2012 at 3:00 AM
Both are correct,Lata has her highest duets with Rafi as well as Asha also has sung her highest no of songs with Rafi..However in case of Lata,Number is more.
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August 2, 2011 at 4:50 PM
This song from Kohinoor in Rafi’s voice and Dilip Kumar’s acting is one of my absolute favourite songs.
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August 3, 2011 at 11:39 AM
good choice old gold..nice to hear this song again
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August 3, 2011 at 9:41 AM
thnks people got to hear some indeed incredible songs, some where to my taste some not.. but i have to agree indeed thats a great voice…
actually to be frank nowdays i dont even knw who is singer of which song..
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August 3, 2011 at 10:13 AM
>some where to my taste some not.
LOL!! I’m trying to guess which ones.
But the number and variety of songs sung by Rafi is so vast that to get a few is so difficult. His songs picturised on Johny walker were great like yeh hai bombai meri jaan.
One blogger tried to get his 10 best *moods* instead, as 10 best was impossible.
If you’re interested here is the link,
http://dustedoff.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/rafi-in-ten-moods/
Another link to a Johny walker song, a duet of Rafi and another great voice – Manna dey. The sound quality isn’t that good, but the song is great.
But perhaps these are the very songs not to your taste 😉
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August 3, 2011 at 12:43 PM
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August 3, 2011 at 3:19 PM
sort of reDiscovered this song recently —addictive song
Google has enabled me to appreciate &enjoy lyrics more…lol
tumne mujhe dekhaa, ho kar meharabaan
ruk gayee ye zameen, tham gayaa aasamaan
jaana-ye-man jaana-ye-jaan
kahee dard kee seharaa me, rukate chalate hote
in-hothhon-kee hasarat me, tapate jalate hote
meharabaan ho gayee, zulf kee badaliyaan
jaana-ye-man jaana-ye-jaan
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August 3, 2011 at 9:56 PM
This is my fav Rafi song! Thanks Alex for posting the utube clip here
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August 4, 2011 at 4:02 AM
Glad u liked it buff….
Similar tastes!!
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August 4, 2011 at 3:40 AM
One trivia for you- Shammi Kapoor’s wife Geeta Bali passed away during the shoot of this movie and he took a break from shooting-came back and his first shoot was for this song!
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August 3, 2011 at 3:40 PM
Continuing in the musical mood, something unrelated but iconic nonetheless…One of my alltime faves—Brilliant disguise
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August 3, 2011 at 10:04 PM
All this discussion on Rafi and Lata has suddenly made me realise that they seem to have also sung the max no of male-female versions of the same song-
1) Zindagi Bhar nahi bhoolegi- Barsaat ki Raat
2) Mere Mehboob Tujhe – Mere Mehboob
3) Waadiyan Mere Daman – Abhilasha
4) O Mere Shahekhuba – Love in Tokyo
5) Tere Aankhon Ke Siva – Chirag
6) Tum Mujhe Yun – Pagla Kahin Ka
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August 3, 2011 at 10:05 PM
One more-
Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par- Junglee
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August 4, 2011 at 6:03 AM
Interesting list of songs sung by both Rafi and Lata. I think
jiya ho jiya from Jab pyar kisi se hota hai is sung by both. I may be mistaken though.
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August 4, 2011 at 6:12 AM
You are right . Though in this case , the Lata version seems to be vastly inferior as she seems to be struggling with the high notes
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August 4, 2011 at 6:13 AM
Also sounds suspiciously like Suman Kalyanpur
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August 4, 2011 at 6:24 AM
I did some research and according to this list it’s Lata.
http://cineplot.com/music/lata-mangeshkars-song-list-1961/
You are right about the high notes which is disappointing, because I always find her quite a master of these. Must have been a wrong time/mood for her that day of recording it.
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August 4, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Oh Latha, wonderful. Thanks for the delicious whiff of nostalgia that u brought here by mentioning these songs and pointing out that they have been sung by both Rafi and Lata. Having been humming them (under my breath, to maintain peace n harmony at home) since.Thanks again.
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August 4, 2011 at 6:08 AM
OK rooney. Since I’m guessing your taste would these two following Rafi songs please you? In colour too.
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August 4, 2011 at 10:28 AM
oh did rafi seriously sung tht first song? i have always liked it didnt knew it was his voice!
thnks oldie
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August 4, 2011 at 8:44 PM
Our local desi radio station had a special 1 hr Rafi segment as part of its weekly hindi film music program last night -what a treat!
Another personal fav of mine is “ek hasin shaam ko dil mera kho gaya, pehle apna hua karta tha, abh kissi ka ho gaya”. I remember seeing this on a Song DVD – Dharam singing with Nutan walking alongside – a very natural scene
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August 4, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Shammi Kapoor spoiled a lot of Rafi songs with his ott dancing and gestures and he does the same.
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August 4, 2011 at 12:21 PM
I have always believed it’s the actors who give the singers an undying and everlasting immortality. Rafi was the golden voice for Dilip Kumar similar to Mukesh songs immortalized by Raj Kapoor. Dev Anand was another gem for Rafi.
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August 4, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Some of the notable song where the actors could not add much –
Neele neele ambar – Kunal Goswami
Ashiqui all songs – Rahul Roy
Phir teri kahani yaad aayee all songs – Rahul Roy
Among oldies does anyone remember teree galiyon mein na rakhenge sanam and the actor was anil dhawan there….
any thoughts ?
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August 4, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Excellent point here,MSD.There are countless such examples.
Chalte Chalte mere ye geet yaad rakhna from Chalte Chalte, Bappi’s first movie as MD and the actor was Vishal Anand.
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August 4, 2011 at 12:28 PM
And, who can forget the songs from Julie released around the same time , again a first time MD- Rajesh Roshan and that forgettable Vikram as the hero.
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August 4, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Haha. yes I do remember them since I revisit them very often Rajen1.
On a similar note, on the sister website someone posted a song O saathi re – Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and how the song is a perfect example of playback singing – lip syncing and it feels as if Amitabh is singing and has transported us to his own sad world..
since this is Rafi thread, how can one forget the song by Rafi – teri bindiya. The acting there by bachchan and jaya is top notch.
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August 4, 2011 at 1:45 PM
As evident from the “shakti–amitabh/dilip, I have a (naughty-ish) interest in these sort of match-ups..
Feel that to be frank, these are a bit late in the day for Rafi and its really kishores era here –but nonetheless good case studies…
Which brings me to —u guessed it !–
kishre vs rafi debate…lol
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August 4, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Good ones Alex. Both songs there suited Kishore’s voice more, but still rafi holds his own and excels too.
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August 4, 2011 at 1:56 PM
Though both were very versatlie but I dont think Kishore could do a a song like – Khilona Jaan Kar…
and viceversa Rafi may not be able to do a De De Pyaar De…. Sharaabi
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August 4, 2011 at 3:29 PM
>Rafi may not be able to do a De De Pyaar De…
Perhaps this song might qualify Rafi as being able to sing in that style…especially at the end.
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August 4, 2011 at 1:57 PM
thanx MSD–
“Both songs there suited Kishore’s voice more, but still rafi holds his own and excels too.”—exactly–
thats the point i put these songs up (although there maybe much better songs otherwise)
Inspite of being over-the-hill, rafi manages reasonably well and didnt get overshadowed by the “at the peak” stellar kishore here.
btw—u didnt answer—whose better overall—rafi or kishore…lol
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August 4, 2011 at 2:07 PM
Alex – my taste suits Kishore and a by a big margin.
But at the same time I am a huge fan of Rafi and Mukesh too.
Just imagine Rajesh Khanna crooning – Itna toh yaad hai mujhe …
Or mukesh with Jaane Kahan Gaye who din…
All there were best on any given day.
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August 4, 2011 at 2:10 PM
* All three were best on any given day
I mean ‘Itna toh yaad hai mujhe’ sung by Rafi.
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August 4, 2011 at 2:26 PM
Since this is Rafi thread –
Though Kishore was the voice for both Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh – Rafi did exceedingly well with these songs for them respectively
– Yeh ju chilman hai ….Mehboob ki Mehndi / Chup gaye saare nazare oye kya baat ho gayee – Do Raaste
– John jani janardhan tara rum pum – Naseeb / Mere dost kissa ye kya ho gaya – Dostana
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August 4, 2011 at 2:35 PM
ironically yesterday was kishore’s birthday
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August 4, 2011 at 2:36 PM
good ones MSD.
would be worthwhile to hear from others about the rafi/kishore debate….
off topic—-
Whilst in the musical mood—A little known song that i didnt know exists
Came across it while watching lekin on telly.
An atypical song for me since dont normally like this singer or this type or style.
But now have been hooked….
Wanna know–how many knew of this/liked this? suspect :v few
Warning—grows only after a few listenings (if one can manage them which can be difficult—in my case i was forced to hear it!!)
thats called —a hidden gem (but on a casual hearing sounds uttercrap)
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August 4, 2011 at 3:10 PM
It is a rather pointless debate. It is a matter of taste.
Rafi,Mukehs,Kishore – all great, all iconic, all immortals.
I personally prefer Kishore but would never claim he was better than the other two. These three have brought unmeasurable joy to the fans of Hindi music and is hard to quantify their talent or contributions.
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August 4, 2011 at 3:37 PM
^^^That is also a “point of view”
By the way, no “point of view” is “pointless”–pun intended!!! lol
For me—-No ifs, no buts
Rafi and kishor(open to debate ) > Mukesh (with all due respect to mukesh and his brilliance…)
But The greatest singer ever from the subcontinent cutting across age, sex, era, religion is—–
ps—seems my first ever trip to rajasthan seems incumbent—gr8 scenery
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August 4, 2011 at 7:33 PM
Agree on Lata, although I personally consider sis Asha to be the “better” singer.:-)
And since today is Kishoreda’s birthday, one of my faves from him:
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August 5, 2011 at 3:38 AM
On the Rafi vs Kishore debate, agree that it is really difficult to choose or compare and it would really boil down to personal preference. Though both of them started singing in the 1950’s , Kishore’s career actually took off in the 70s by which time Rafi had been singing for almost 20 years non stop. A lot of Kishore’s popularity now is perhaps due to RDB’s timeless music !
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July 31, 2012 at 3:07 AM
Rafi had been singing since 1944..till 1980
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August 5, 2011 at 4:11 AM
“Though both of them started singing in the 1950′s , Kishore’s career actually took off in the 70s by which time Rafi had been singing for almost 20 years non stop. A lot of Kishore’s popularity now is perhaps due to RDB’s timeless music !”– hmmmm
Latha– an astute point– must say didn’t think of it!
That gives more weightage to rafi?
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August 6, 2011 at 11:21 AM
Did not mean to say that Rafi was a better singer but that most of the songs that they sung together including what you posted above were in the 70s – by which time Rafi had 20 years of non stop singing!. So his voice obviously would have matured whereas Kishore voice sounds relatively young and fresh. Also Kishore being an actor himself probably could visualise the song better.
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August 6, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Point taken Latha…
By the way– the extra “h” in your name is interesting– is it NCOs of the” south” indian connexion
Thanx
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August 7, 2011 at 6:05 AM
what is an ‘NCO’
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August 7, 2011 at 11:26 AM
That’s a typo (unintentional in this case)
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August 6, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Rafi started singing in 40s.
In 1949 he got properly established by singing in 3 films which had music by Naushad.
This song from Dulari is really good considering Rafi had just started. The tune is melodious.
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August 6, 2011 at 5:48 PM
Useful info there by oldgold.
Didnt know rafi was active was way back as 1940s.
Most here are going by anecdotal evidence or assessing in retrospect.
However, the likes of oldgold have actually LIVED through that era and have seen this unfold before her eyes.
So it will be worthwhile to hear out Oldgolds (esteemed & hopefully unbiased) views on the rafi vs kishore debate ….
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August 6, 2011 at 6:28 PM
He started singing around the mid-40s but his big breakout moment was Mela in 1948 (yeh zindagi ke mele).
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August 7, 2011 at 7:15 AM
>the likes of oldgold have actually LIVED through that era and have seen this unfold before her eyes.
Ah, yes. Those were the days, I tell you!!
But a contemporary of mine, satyam, can better express his views and give accurate information as you can see from his comment above.
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August 7, 2011 at 4:22 AM
vintage kishore
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August 7, 2011 at 7:23 AM
If you think the song from 1964 Door gagan ki chaaon mein is vintage then I don’t know what you’ll say to this song from 1948 film Ziddi, perhaps among his first songs.
It’s clear the style of singing also matters. Here he’s clearly in KL Saigal mode.
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August 7, 2011 at 4:23 AM
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August 7, 2011 at 4:27 AM
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August 8, 2011 at 9:25 AM
This is one of my really fav songs of Rafi – a gem really because it has unmatched lyrics, music and atmosphere. Rafi clearly the better singer here, though.
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August 8, 2011 at 2:03 PM
This is really a beautiful song all round. One of my favourites too.
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August 8, 2011 at 2:10 PM
……and here’s a very romantic/poetic song by Rafi. Lovely!!
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August 9, 2011 at 5:28 AM
My fav as well!
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August 8, 2011 at 2:17 PM
“>the likes of oldgold have actually LIVED through that era and have seen this unfold before her eyes.
Ah, yes. Those were the days, I tell you!!”–
lol: so i was right oldgold..
Btw who was the younger version in the “harem”?
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August 8, 2011 at 2:27 PM
My bhoot.
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August 10, 2011 at 4:28 AM
Thanks to this thread, am rediscovering songs which I haven’t heard in a long long time. Just found out that Rafi and Kishore have sung more than 70 songs together! Here’s a song which is different and probably tests both the singers
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August 10, 2011 at 5:53 AM
What a lovely contrast, both being excellent.
What film is this?
It seems they both weren’t conscious of any rivalry, but alex adams you can be the judge over Kishore vs Rafi.
Another song by the two from Akalmand (1966).
The print is bad, but gets better (or you get used to) as the song pregresses. Kishore sings for himself, and Rafi for I.S. Johar.
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August 10, 2011 at 6:05 AM
Talking of Rafi and Kishore, here’s a song sung by Rafi *for* Kishore in the film Ragini. It’s a classical (perhaps that’s why).
There are quite a few songs sung by Rafi for him.
Shararat is another film.
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August 10, 2011 at 6:23 AM
This is for a film called ‘Parwana’ starring Sr Bachchan in the negative role. In ‘Johnny Gadar’ , Neil watches this movie for inspiration. Just now discovered that this song which I used to listen on Vividh Bharati so often was recorded for this movie but was not shot!
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